Abstract

HUARCAYA CASTILLA, Erick, CHINGA ALAYO, Erick, CHAVEZ PAZ, Juan Marcos et al. Influence of El Niño Phenomenon in the epidemiology of human bartonellosis in the Departments of Ancash and Cusco between 1996 and 1999. Rev Med Hered, Jan./Mar. 2004, vol.15, no.1, p.4-10. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To determinate the influence of climatic factors and El Nino phenomenon 1997 - 1998 in the epidemiology of the Bartonellosis in Ancash and Cusco, Peru. Material and Methods: An ecologic study was developed. Monthly climatic information of Urubamba and Carhuaz were obtained from SENAMHI, as well as confirmed monthly cases reports from the OGE, between 1996 and 1999. Results: In both departments, Ancash and Cusco, the correlate coefficients with local ambiental parameters (maximal, mean and minimal monthly temperature, and total precipitation) showed low significance. In contrast, the Sea Surface Temperature was the best parameter that correlates with the epidemiologic evolution of Bartonellosis, either in the local and regional level. The incidence rate of Bartonellosis was statistically higher during El Nino 1997 - 1998 in Ancash and Cusco, simultaneously. Conclusions: The significant increase of the incidence rate of Bartonellosis during El Nino in departments as distant as Ancash and Cusco in a simultaneously way, is an evidence that climatic factors and El Nino phenomenon modify the epidemiology human Bartonellosis. (Rev Med Hered 2004; 15: 4-10 ).

Keywords: Bartonellosis; El Niño phenomenon; Ancash; Cusco.